CDC reports increased access to community water fluoridation
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Posted July 10, 2008 |
By Craig Palmer ADA President Mark J. Feldman commended "very encouraging news" from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that reports increasing access to optimally fluoridated drinking water.
"We know from years of experience and scientific study that community water fluoridation benefits everyone," Dr. Feldman said in a statement posted at www.ada.org. "The ADA has long advocated water fluoridation as the single most effective health measure to prevent tooth decay. Our members are committed to working with federal, state and municipal governments to increase even further the number of Americans who benefit from it." Association fluoridation resources are available online at http://www.ada.org/prof/resources/topics/fluoride.asp.
The CDC said nearly 70 percent of U.S. residents served by community water systems receive optimally fluoridated water or more than 184 million persons. That's an increase over a 14-year period through 2006 from 65.8 to 69.2 percent. Fluoride, a compound naturally occurring in the environment, can reduce or prevent tooth decay. Teeth remain at risk for decay throughout the lifespan making fluoridation an important preventive tool for both children and adults.
"Community water fluoridation is an equitable, cost-effective and cost-saving method of delivering fluoride to most people," said Dr. William Maas, director of CDC's division of oral health. "We have seen some marked improvements; however, there are still too many states that have not met the national goal that 75 percent of U.S. residents on community water systems receive fluoridated water by 2010."
The study, "Populations Receiving Optimally Fluoridated Public Drinking Water -- United States, 1992-2006," is published in CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. The report at www.cdc.gov/MMWR provides the most recent information on the status of fluoridated water by state.
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